Small lineup encourages Tar Heels

By Conor O'Neill / Times-News

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 01:53 AM.

“It’s just a speed advantage on the defensive end, offensive end,” Hairston said. “Of course, I might have to guard a (6-foot-8) or 6-9, but at the same time they’ll have to guard me, too. That just takes away from the other team’s defense. That’s up to me to maintain my weight down there and hold my own.

The sophomore scored a game-high 23 points, tying his career high, despite shooting just 1-for-7 from behind the arc. Hairston has now made a 3-pointer in 21 straight games, but entered the game having made 17 of his last 29 attempts from long distance.

He also held his own and then some inside with eight rebounds — seven coming on the offensive end.

Not bad for a player who missed a game two weeks ago with a concussion.

Paige was unsure if the lineup would become a staple of North Carolina for the next couple months, but at least knew the lineup would force other teams to adjust accordingly, as Duke did.

“I’m not sure if it’s a long-term solution, that’s a decision for coach,” Paige said. “But I think it does give other teams some matchup problems when we have someone as versatile as P.J.

“We don’t lose too much rebounding and if he’s able to contribute the way he does on the offensive end too, it makes you harder to guard. I think we’ll probably see that more during the stretch of the ACC season.”

DURHAM — North Carolina played the role of spoiler Wednesday night, thanks mostly to the work by a lineup that had rarely been on the court at the same time.

The Tar Heels fielded a starting lineup of four guards — Marcus Paige, Reggie Bullock, Dexter Strickland and P.J. Hairston — along with James Michael McAdoo. It was the first time this season for that combination to start.

But once North Carolina grabbed a 10-point lead about 13 minutes into the game, its effectiveness was beyond doubt.

“It was big for our team to try to go small and run them,” Strickland said. “We told P.J. to be aggressive and when he was aggressive, I think that kind of made us aggressive also. Getting to the basket, knocking down free throws.”

Of course, the positive momentum from the small lineup was thrown back by Duke’s second-half charge, which resulted in a 73-68 North Carolina defeat.

But down in the Cameron Indoor Stadium visiting locker room, North Carolina players were at least encouraged after the game, based on the energy boost that came from a different starting lineup look.

“It’s just a speed advantage on the defensive end, offensive end,” Hairston said. “Of course, I might have to guard a (6-foot-8) or 6-9, but at the same time they’ll have to guard me, too. That just takes away from the other team’s defense. That’s up to me to maintain my weight down there and hold my own.

The sophomore scored a game-high 23 points, tying his career high, despite shooting just 1-for-7 from behind the arc. Hairston has now made a 3-pointer in 21 straight games, but entered the game having made 17 of his last 29 attempts from long distance.

He also held his own and then some inside with eight rebounds — seven coming on the offensive end.

Not bad for a player who missed a game two weeks ago with a concussion.

Paige was unsure if the lineup would become a staple of North Carolina for the next couple months, but at least knew the lineup would force other teams to adjust accordingly, as Duke did.

“I’m not sure if it’s a long-term solution, that’s a decision for coach,” Paige said. “But I think it does give other teams some matchup problems when we have someone as versatile as P.J.

“We don’t lose too much rebounding and if he’s able to contribute the way he does on the offensive end too, it makes you harder to guard. I think we’ll probably see that more during the stretch of the ACC season.”

For the Blue Devils, the speed of North Carolina’s guard-filled lineup had a profound effect in the first half.